Safe Water Supply Research Articles

Spatiotemporal variations of phosphorus fraction and distribution in Sichuan section mainstem in the upper Yangtze River with impoundment of Xiangjiaba Reservoir in the lower Jinsha River.

Sichuan section mainstem (SSM) in the upper Yangtze River (UYR) plays a crucial role in protecting the aquatic environment of the UYR and ensuring a safe water supply to the Three Gorges Reservoir. The impoundments of cascade reservoirs on the lower Jinsha River have significantly influenced sediment regime and phosphorus (P) transport in the SSM. This effect on water quality and safety remains poorly understood. In this study, the spatiotemporal variations of P fraction and distribution in the SSM from 2010 to 2020 were measured. The results showed that critical changes were observed in the SSM after the impoundment in 2012, which were as follows: (1) in the outflow of the SSM, dissolved phosphorus (DP) flux increased from 0.950×104t to 1.153×104t and the proportion of DP in the total phosphorus (TP) increased by 227.4%. Jinsha River, Min River, and DP release from internal P, bore responsibilities of 24.6%, 38.9%, and 21.3% for the DP growth, respectively. (2) Min River replaced Jinsha River as the dominant P supplier. (3) Concentrations of TP, particle phosphorus (PP), coarse particle P (CPP), and fine particle P (FPP) were positively related with SS concentration (R2>84%). Proportions of PP and DP in TP showed substantial logarithmic increase and decrease over SS concentration (R2>95%), respectively. The proportion of FPP in PP was elevated by 32.5%, whereas that of FPP in TP remained stable in both the SSM and its tributaries from 2010 to 2020 and had a relatively close value (35.9 to 39.9%). The important phenomenon, not reported in previous studies, will need detailed exploration to reveal the reasons and scientific significances in future work. These findings elucidated the transformation of P species along the SSM, providing a comprehensive understanding of FPP and CPP in preventing and controlling P pollution in the SSM.

A Comprehensive Review of Riverbank Filtration Technology for Water Treatment

Riverbank filtration (RBF) technology has been applied and investigated worldwide for water supplies due to its sustainable water quantity guarantee and reliable quality improvement. In this work, the development history, application status, research progress, and technical overview of RBF are reviewed and summarized. RBF usually uses rivers, lakes, and groundwater as raw water, with a few cases using seawater. Nitrogen removal in RBF systems primarily occurs through key geochemical processes such as adsorption, denitrification, organic nitrogen mineralization, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). For the attenuation of emerging contaminants in groundwater environments, key processes such as filtration, adsorption, and biotransformation play a crucial role, and microorganisms are essential. Based on a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages, we proposed the research prospects of RBF. To further enhance the water-supply safety and security with RBF, the mechanisms of surface water and groundwater interaction, pollutant removal, and blockage; the impact of capturing surface water on the stability of river ecosystems; and the coupling and synergistic effect of RBF with other water treatment technologies should be deeply investigated.

Multi-modal learning-based algae phyla identification using image and particle modalities.

Algal blooms in freshwater, which are exacerbated by urbanization and climate change, pose significant challenges in the water treatment process. These blooms affect water quality and treatment efficiency. Effective identification of algal proliferation based on the dominant species is important to ensure safe drinking water and a clean water supply. Traditional algae identification techniques, such as microscopy and molecular techniques, are time-consuming and depend on the expertise of the practitioner. This study introduced an artificial intelligence (AI)-based multi-modal approach, which is a recent advancement in techniques for improving algal identification by integrating algal images and particle properties. We employed multi-modal learning to integrate multiple data modalities, including algal images and particle properties acquired using Flow Cam, to provide robustness and reliability for classifying algal phyla, such as Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Microcystis, Oscillatoria, and Synedra. This study involved acquiring images and particle modalities, which were conducted to integrate the dataset using early, late, and hybrid fusion methods. In addition, explainable AI approaches, including SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) and gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM), were used to investigate the contributions of the algal image and particle modalities to the proposed multi-modal algorithm. The multi-modal algae identifier with late fusion achieved an average F1 score of 0.91 and 0.88 for training and tests related to identifying algal phyla, respectively. Furthermore, compared with other modalities, the image and particle modalities showed significant potential as complementary and reliable components of deep-learning algorithms for algal identification in the water treatment process. These findings can contribute to a safe and clean water supply by effectively identifying the dominant algal species in the water treatment process.

Advantages and disadvantages of current human enteric virus surrogates in soils and aquifers.

Groundwater is one of the main sources of drinking water, thus, human enteric viruses in groundwater could pose safety risks. Many enteric viruses enter drinking water sources through irrigation or recharge of contaminated water. It is therefore advised to test the potential transport risk with harmless surrogates before wastewater or recycled water is used for irrigation or groundwater recharge. An ideal virus surrogate should be able to mimic the particle size, the surface properties and the inactivation rate of its target virus and should be easy to detect. Particle size should be the first consideration when selecting a suitable virus surrogate in soil and aquifer. The natural bacteriophages could only mimic the viruses that are inherently similar to themselves, and there is only a limited number of readily available bacteriophages. Therefore, once a certain bacteriophage is chosen for study, its particle size, surface properties and inactivation rate are set and unmodifiable for the experiment. Fluorescent microspheres <200nm could surrogate target viruses in fast-flow subsurface systems, where inactivation can be neglected. However, the current detection limit of fluorescent nanospheres cannot support the detection of small-sized fluorescent microspheres (∼20nm) through porous media without macropores. Newly emerging DNA tracers not only allow controlling the size and surface properties, but also offer a low detection limit (ideally 1 copy of DNA). Investigating new types of DNA tracers that could either simulate or mimic the inactivation rate of target viruses could widen the use of virus surrogates to study groundwater contamination and drinking water supply safety.

Modeling of flows under dams using the method of singular points

Today, the relevance of issues related to regular and safe water supply for human beings, society and the economy is beyond doubt. One of the main ways to store and man age water resources is the construction and operation of dams. The most important task of sustainable existence and development of reservoir projects is dam safety. To ensure this, theoretical research, creation of mathematical and computer models of the physical phe nomena and engineering structures under study are necessary. The paper proposes methods for constructing flows in the middle sections of a dam with a linear filtration law by ap propriately placing special flow points and applying conformal transformations. Filtration f lows with different outlines of impermeable floodplain, flows under a dam with filters in homogeneously isotropic and heterogeneously anisotropic soils are considered.

High Molecular-Weight Organics as Precursors for Toxic Iodinated Disinfection Byproducts during Chloramination.

Iodinated DBPs (I-DBPs), many more toxic than regulated chlorinated and/or brominated DBPs, are a major challenge in the supply of safe drinking water. While over 800 DBPs have been identified, the occurrence and precursors of toxic I-DBPs remain poorly understood. Herein, natural organic matter from two raw drinking waters was fractionated using ultrafiltration membranes into different groups based on molecular weight (MW). The <1 kDa fraction exhibited the highest levels of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity after disinfection. However, in the presence of iodide, the 10-100 kDa fraction had the highest toxicity/dissolved organic carbon values. FT-ICR MS analysis showed high reactivity between hypoiodous acid and the 10-100 kDa fraction, and a shift from aromatic and unsaturated molecules to more saturated and oxidized molecules during chloramination of 10-100 kDa fraction. Based on nontarget analysis using orbitrap MS, four I-DBPs with high peak intensities during chloramination of 10-100 kDa fraction were identified and then confirmed using chemical standards: 4-hydroxy-3-iodo-5-nitrobenzonitrile, 2,4,5-triiodoimidazole, 3,5-diiodo-4-hydroxybenzonitrile, and 2,6-diiodo-4-nitrophenol. The first two have been first identified in drinking water. The concentrations of the four DBPs ranged from <LOD to 20.7 ng/L in the finished waters and tap waters. Moreover, the four I-DBPs were 2-3 orders of magnitude more toxic than regulated tribromomethane and dichloroacetic acid. Overall, our study highlights the 10-100 kDa fraction of high molecular weight organics as the primary precursor group for toxic I-DBPs during chloramination and provides insights into key research challenges for this important category of DBPs.

An Empirical Analysis of the Impact of Pesticide and Fertilizer Pollution on Household Income

In agricultural production, agricultural non-point source pollution threatens the safety of water supply and food safety, restricts the sustainable development of the agricultural economy and rural ecological environment, and is the bottleneck of agricultural development in China. To explore the impact of this situation on the real income of rural households, the paper is based on the data from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) from 2014 to 2018. With the pollution status in agricultural production as the explanatory variable and the total value of household agricultural and sideline products as an explanatory variable, a fixed effect model was established to estimate the influence of fertilizer and pesticide application on labor income level. The results show that the income brought by pesticide and fertilizer input is low efficiency, and some farmers have achieved high yields with low input. In addition, the education level of the agricultural population and the size of the family had no significant effect on this. Considering the output problem, the application of pesticides and fertilizers is necessary, but the cognition that pesticides and fertilizers can increase crop yield and income makes the application of pesticides continue to increase, which is not conducive to the increase of agricultural output value. It is necessary to attach importance to new methods of increasing agricultural production based on the application of small amounts of fertilizers and pesticides and use technological reform and professional agricultural education to promote the rational use of pesticides and fertilizers and achieve rapid development of agriculture.

First report of a major management target species, chironomid Paratanytarsus grimmii (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae, in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) in South Korea.

Ensuring the supply of safe and high-quality drinking water can be compromised by the presence of chironomid larvae in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs), which may contaminate municipal water systems through freshwater resources. Chironomids are dominant species known for their resilience to a broad range of extreme aquatic environments. This study aimed to identify the morphological characteristics and obtain genetic information of the chironomid Paratanytarsus grimmii found in the water intake source and freshwater resource of DWTPs in Korea, highlighting the potential possibility of a parthenogenetic chironomid outbreak within DWTP networks. The distribution of chironomid larvae at the water intake source site (DY) of the Danyang DWTP and the freshwater resource (ND) of the Nakdong River was investigated. A total of 180 chironomid individuals, encompassing three subfamilies and six species from six 6 genera were identified at the DY site, with Procladius nigriventris being the dominant species. At the ND site, fifty chironomid individuals, encompassing two subfamilies and six species from six genera, were identified, with Cricotopus sylvestris being the dominant species. The morphological characteristics of the head capsule, mentum, mandible, and antennae of six P. grimmii larvae collected from the DY and ND sites were characterized. DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct mitochondrial diversities between the P. grimmii larvae from DY and those from ND. These results provide crucial information for the morphological identification and DNA barcoding of the key management target chironomid P. grimmii larvae, which can be used to detect the occurrence of this chironomid species in DWTPs.

The occurrence and persistence of surface water contaminants across different landscapes

Surface water contaminants, including both conventional contaminants (e.g., nutrients, trace elements) and emerging contaminants (e.g., pesticides, pharmaceuticals) are heavily influenced by urban and rural land use practices. The goal of the study was to characterize the influence of watershed land use practices on surface water quality. Specific objectives were to (1) identify and quantify the type and concentration of nutrients, trace elements, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in four watersheds and (2) understand potential sources of contamination based on the watershed's land cover and land use characteristics (i.e., oil and gas, urban, mining, agriculture). Monthly polar organic chemical integrative samples and water grab samples were collected from March–October 2022. The results showed that surface water quality varied by location, season, and flood condition Specifically, aluminum (mean = 758 μg L−1) and iron (mean = 1130 μg L−1) exceeded chronic aquatic life water quality criteria in the agricultural watershed, while imidacloprid exceeded the chronic criteria limit for freshwater invertebrates in both the urban (mean = 5.96 ng L−1) and agricultural (mean = 4.72 ng L−1) watersheds. Sulfate concentrations (mean = 666 mg L−1) also exceeded ambient water quality criteria in the watershed with a high activity of mining. This study provides important steps for developing a comprehensive understanding of land use impacts on contaminant presence and concentration in surface waters, improved understanding of the implications to non-target species, and necessary water treatment processes to ensure a safe water supply.

Modelling PFAS Transport in Lake Ekoln: Implications for Drinking Water Safety in the Stockholm Region.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found frequently in both groundwater and surface water sources across Sweden posing challenges to drinking water supply. Lake Ekoln is located south of Uppsala and is the basin of Lake Mälaren; Lake Mälaren is the third largest lake in Sweden and is the drinking water source for more than two million people. The aim of this study was to simulate the fate and transport of PFAS in Lake Ekoln during the period 2017 - 2020 using three-dimensional hydrodynamic modelling. The simulated water temperatures were in agreement with the observed water temperatures. The simulated PFAS concentrations were generally in agreement with the available measurements, but the lack of measurements made the comparison uncertain. The modelling results described the seasonal variations of PFAS in Lake Ekoln informing the operation of the drinking water treatment plants located downstream. The modelling results confirmed that the main inflow to the lake - the river Fyrisån - is the main source of PFAS to Lake Ekoln, highlighting the importance of mitigating this source in the context of ensuring safe drinking water supply in the Stockholm region. Regular monitoring of PFAS in the river Fyrisån is needed, and additional measurements in Lake Ekoln would facilitate further model development.

Comparative analysis of water security in Kermanshah Province cities, Iran

ABSTRACT This study evaluates water security in the cities of Kermanshah Province, Iran, through the application of the water poverty index (WPI), incorporating five key components: resources, capacity, access, use, and environment. Data were sourced from official records and analyzed to generate WPI scores for each city. The results indicate that Kermanshah Province experiences medium to high levels of water poverty, with significant inter-city disparities. The WPI values ranged from 30.44 in Salas-e Babajani to 66.25 in Kermanshah, with an average provincial score of 43.84. Sahneh ranked highest in the ‘Resources’ component, due to its abundant groundwater and surface water, while Gilangharb and Salas-e Babajani reported the lowest scores, primarily due to unauthorized well extractions. In terms of access, Qasr-e Shirin achieved 99.92% coverage in safe water supply, whereas other cities, such as Javanrud and Salas-e Babajani, fell below 50%. Environmental conditions were generally favorable across the province, with the exception of Sarpol-e Zahab, where water quality was degraded by high pesticide and fertilizer use. These findings underscore the urgent need for tailored water management interventions to address the regional disparities in water security.

New imidazole sensors synthesized for copper (II) detection in aqueous solutions

Water security, safety, availability and sustainability of water supply are increasingly problematic and difficult across the planet. Safe and rapid methods have been developed to purify water from cationic pollutants. New imidazole-derived fluorescent sensors, 2-(4,5-diphenyl-1-(p-tolyl)-1H-imidazol-2-yl) phenol (TS) and 2-(1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl) phenol (AS), have been synthesized and characterized, and their possibility as fluorescence sensors for copper (II) has been examined. In CH3CN/H2O (90 v/v), the TS and AS revealed a noticeable an electronic band at 320.00 nm and fluorescence band at 460.90 nm. The ratio metric alterations in the absorption and fluorescence spectra of TS and AS due to the dative covalent bond between them and the copper (II) were shown by the findings of copper (II) titration. The sensing mechanism was validated by optical investigations and FT-IR spectra. In mixed solvent solutions, the selectivity of TS and AS to copper (II) as fluorescent sensors has been demonstrated, with sensitivity as low as 0.09 and 0.28 µM, significantly less than the limit permitted via the US EPA for drinking water (2.00 µM). The identification limits of TS and AS were assessed to be 0.05 and 0.50 µM, respectively, using the spectrophotometric procedure. Stoichiometry binding between TS and AS with copper (II) was found to be 2:1 (tetrahedral structure) as indicated by Job's method.

Hydrogeochemical characterization and human health risks associated with groundwater nitrate concentrations in the Saiss basin, Morocco

Groundwater has been facing not only prolonged climate change-induced groundwater shortage but also severe deterioration of groundwater quality from natural and/or anthropogenic sources. This study aims to determine the hydrogeochemical processes controlling groundwater chemistry in the Saiss basin, Morocco, and to assess seasonal changes in groundwater quality using the entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI). In addition, human health risks associated with groundwater nitrate (NO3−) contamination/pollution were investigated using the hazard quotient (HQ). Groundwater chemistry in the Saiss basin was mainly controlled by mineral dissolution/precipitation and direct cation exchange, with slight seasonal variations in the saturation indices (SIs). The EWQI suggested slight groundwater quality deterioration in the dry season due to increased NO3− concentrations. In fact, children were over two times exposed to non-carcinogenic issues associated with groundwater NO3− concentrations when compared with adults. The current study provides further insights into the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater to ensure safe regional water supplies.

Assessment of Health and Well-Being Effects Associated With the Challenging Drinking Water Situation in the Gaza Strip: Protocol for a Cross-Sectional Household Survey Study.

The water supply in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, has been unstable and under strain for decades, resulting in major issues with drinking water quality, reliability, and acceptability. In 2018, between 25% and 30% of Gazans did not have regular access to running water. The progressive deterioration of water infrastructure and concerns over the quality of piped water have resulted in a complex mix of drinking water sources used in the Gaza Strip. The challenges of safe water provision in the Gaza Strip could potentially have severe adverse effects on the population's health and well-being. The main objectives of this survey are to determine the quality of drinking water at the household level and to investigate the association of various health outcomes with water quality at the household level in the Gaza Strip. We conducted a cross-sectional household survey in the North Gaza, Gaza, and Rafah governorates between January and March 2023. We selected a subsample of households from a representative cross-sectional survey conducted in the Gaza Strip in 2020 with persons aged 40 years and older. From each household in the 2023 survey, we invited 3 individuals (2 older than 40 years and 1 between 18 and 30 years) to participate. The face-to-face interview included questions on drinking water, mental health and well-being, self-reported diagnoses for selected diseases, use of antibiotics, and knowledge about antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, we measured each participant's blood pressure. We sampled drinking water from each household and analyzed the samples for microbial contamination, nitrate, sodium, and mineral content. In total, we visited 905 households and interviewed 2291 participants. In both age groups, more female participants were interviewed. A total of 56.60% (914/1615) were aged ≥40 years, and 58.9% (398/676) were aged between 18 and 30 years. We obtained water samples from nearly all households (902/905, 99.8%). The results are expected to be published in several papers in 2025. The extensive survey components, coupled with drinking water testing and building on an existing survey, allowed us to identify a broad set of potential impacts on health and well-being and to track changes over time. This study intends to identify humanitarian and development interventions that could impact the population served most. However, we completed data collection before the escalation of violence in October 2023. Given the impact of the still ongoing conflict, the initial intent of this work is no longer valid. However, the results emerging from the survey may still serve as a valuable baseline to assess the impacts of the current escalations on physical and mental health and on drinking water quality. In addition, our findings could provide important information for rebuilding the Gaza Strip in a more health-promoting way. DERR1-10.2196/63415.

Groundwater potential in mining regions for drinking water supply: A case study of the Żelatowa intake (Chrzanów, Poland)

Sustainable development of groundwater resources in regions affected by mining activity requires a comprehensive view of the problem from both a hydrogeological and hydrogeochemical perspective. As groundwater serves as a main source of drinking water in many regions of the world, it is necessary to recognise the potential of mine waters and their real influence on its quality. This study analyses the long-term dynamics of changes in drinking water quality from deep wells S1, S2, and S3 comprising the Żelatowa intake (Chrzanów, Poland), which is located in an area of intensive mining activity. Analysis of the data showed that mining operations are affecting water quality, as observed by upward trends for electrical conductivity, total hardness, and concentrations of certain ions between 2016 and 2021, and downward trends from 2022 onwards. The greatest adverse changes in water quality were observed in well S2 (Fe2+, Mn2+, SO42− concentrations and total hardness do not meet the requirements of Directive 2020/2184), the water requiring mixing with water from other wells to ensure that it is of suitable quality for drinking purposes. The PHREEQC software was successfully used to predict the chemical composition of the final mixture, which meets the requirements of appropriate regulations. The water from the Żelatowa intake can have an adverse effect on the water supply system, which has been proven by several scaling and corrosion indices. Continuous monitoring of the physicochemical parameters of these waters is essential to ensure the safety of the drinking water supply for the surrounding population.

Source identification of water distribution system contamination based on simulated annealing-particle swarm optimization algorithm.

Ensuring the safety of water supplies is critical for urban areas requires rapid response when water quality anomalies are detected in the pipeline network. Prompt action is essential to prevent widespread contamination, protect public health, and mitigate potential social unrest. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm has faced challenges for contamination source identification (CSI) in water distribution systems (WDS), primarily due to its susceptibility to locally optimal solutions. Addressing this issue is critical to quickly and accurately identify contamination sources. Therefore, this research integrates the Metropolis criterion from the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm into a SA-PSO algorithm, to overcome the limitations of PSO. This study conducts contamination localization experiments using SA-PSO, with the publicly available NET-3 pipeline network as the case to generate sudden contamination events. By collecting pollutant concentration data from predefined monitoring points over time through simulation, a simulation-optimization inverse location model is constructed to fit the pollutant concentrations at each monitoring point. The results of the case study show that SA-PSO outperforms PSO in both speed and accuracy in solving the CSI problem, and the findings provide an efficient and effective contamination localization tool for urban water supply management.

Recycling of puffed polystyrene beads waste as a low‐cost antifouling ultrafiltration membrane for water purification

AbstractCurrently, plastic waste, limited water resources, and water contamination are challenges of universal concerns. Recycling plastic waste as a membrane for water/wastewater treatment is of great significance from the perspective of environmental protection and safe drinking water supply. In this study, we used for the first time the puffed polystyrene beads waste (PPSBW) as a basic material for the fabrication of an ultrafiltration membrane and Pluronic F127 (PF127) as a plasticizer and hydrophilizing agent. Different ratios of PF127 were added to the casting solution, and the characteristics of the blank PPSBW and PF127‐modified membranes (PPSBW‐PF127) were evaluated in detail. The addition of PF127 increased the turbidity and viscosity of the casting solution, decreased the contact angle (increased the hydrophilicity), decreased the pure water flux, and increased the rejection of humic acid. The PPSBW membrane with 3 wt.% of PF127 showed the highest antifouling properties, the highest cleaning efficiency, and kept a satisfactory BSA and pure water flux for 4 runs. Overall, PF127 improved the hydrophilicity, organic matter separation, and enhanced the antifouling properties of the PPSBW‐derived membrane.Highlights Renew flow: Repurposing plastic waste as a UF membrane was successfully achieved. The PPSBW‐PF127 membrane was applied for wastewater treatment. Mechanical properties showed reasonable response by adding Pluronic F127. The PPSBW‐PF127 membrane demonstrated a significant rejection and permeability. The PPSBW‐PF127 membrane showed the highest antifouling and cleaning properties.

Development and Application of Reservoir Operation Method Based on Pre-Release Index for Control of Exceedance Floods

The pre-release operation has the potential to enhance the ability of a reservoir to manage exceedance floods. However, the mechanisms for the initiation and termination of such operations are unclear, and a clear method for calculating the pre-release water amount at each time step of the scheduling phase is lacking. To address this, the framework and mathematical expression for a pre-release index are proposed herein, and a refined pre-release scheduling model is developed based on the pre-release indices and their thresholds. Then, the proposed pre-release operation model is applied to the Shuifumiao Reservoir in the Lianshui River Basin in Hunan Province, China. The simulation results demonstrate that the refined pre-release scheduling model can effectively prevent exceedance floods, ensuring the safety of flood control without compromising the effectiveness of water supply safety. The proposed model provides a valuable framework and tool for enhancing the ability of reservoir operators to manage flood events and improve overall flood control safety.

Enhanced copper-adsorption removal from water by easy-handling silica aerogel-polyurethane foam composites

Safe water supply has become one of the main concerns of our society due to the intense industrial activities generating hazardous waste. Among the water pollutants, copper ions are known for potential diseases caused by accumulation of this metal. Therefore, different adsorbents have been produced for this purpose, highlighting aerogels for their effective adsorption owing to their high surface areas and porosity. Herein the synthesis of a novel silica aerogel-based composite for copper removal is described. It was produced by the sol–gel technique, synthesizing the silica aerogel into a reticulated-polyurethane foam that acted as a macrocellular skeleton, preventing a strong shrinkage of the aerogel during the ambient pressure drying. The produced aerogels and composites were characterized in terms of density, textural properties, hydrophobicity, and copper removal efficiency. Isotherm studies revealed a significantly improved adsorption capacity in comparison with the monolithic aerogel, reaching a maximum value of 46.13 mg g−1. The predominant adsorption mechanism was Langmuir- Freundlich adsorption. The adsorption kinetics were also evaluated by different models, as well as the ability to function as filtration medium. Therefore, this work provides a promising strategy for copper uptake avoiding tedious filtration steps to separate the adsorbent, thus reducing time and costs.

Main challenges and measures taken by public health institutions in response to war in Kyiv Region

Abstract Background The establishment of martial law due to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine led to specific adjustments in the functioning of the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (СDС). The negative impact of hostilities is determined by the increased morbidity rate of communicable and non-communicable diseases, insufficient supply of safe drinking water and food to damaged sites, inadequate living conditions, etc. Objectives The purpose of the work was to create an effective system for responding to biological, chemical and radiation hazards and eliminating the consequences of an emergency situation in the realities of martial law. Methods We used the most common methods, namely descriptive, statistical, microbiological and сhemical laboratory tests. Results The activities of the CDC under martial law include daily monitoring studies of environmental objects. The epidemic situation of acute intestinal infection (AII) and other communicable diseases (CD) is constantly analyzed. The Kyiv Oblast CDC became the basic institution for the implementation of the ‘pilot project’ in the direction of sanitary and epidemic assessment and monitoring of environmetal objects in 188 de-occupied areas. The main public health risks were identified: providing the population with high-quality drinking water; low immunization rate of the population; sites for the location of internally displaced persons; natural foci of especially dangerous diseases, such as tularemia, leptospirosis, infection fevers, etc. In 2022, the overall level of CD in the Kyiv region decreased by 44.0% from 2021. The most common nosologies were acute respiratory viral infections and influenza (98.9%), AII (42.4%), tuberculosis (15.3%), Lyme disease (15.3%), and viral hepatitis (14.2%). Conclusions Based on the research conducted, mechanisms have been developed for responding to hazards of various origins by public health institutions, including risk assessmant and laboratory studies. Key messages • The main focus of the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention is aimed at effective response to hazards of various origins in order to ensure public health under martial law. • Risk assessment in de-occupied territories has become an important tool for identifying correct approaches to prevent negative consequences for public health.